The following information was published in
West Virginia -- Description and Travel
by the
West Virginia State Board of Centennial Managers - 1876.
.

This material resides in the Public Domain.  The file may be downloaded by private individuals for personal, non-commercial use only.
 

Public Schools  - 50
Churches - 6
Post offices - 7
Population - 5,053
Value of taxable property - $1, 073, 901.45
County Seat - Hamlin

The surface of Lincoln [County] is hilly, with hills generally of a considerable elevation, in some cases rising almost into mountains.  The slope is usually sufficient for cultivation.  Only about one fifth of the land is cleared, and much of the uncleared land is in large tracts, up to 100,000 acres.

There is some fine bottom land along the Guyandotte River, but the hills on the Guyandotte and Coal rivers are high and rough.  On Mud River, the soils are clay;  elsewhere they are Sandy loams, all generally deep and very fertile.

The crops best suited to the lands are Corn, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Buckwheat, and Tobacco.  Lincoln is one of the most extensive Tobacco raising counties in the State, and the soils are especially adapted to this crop.

The grasses also do finely.  Lincoln produces large amounts of ginseng.  The soils are from 7 to 10 inches deep on the hills, and 12 to 14 inches on the levels.  The hills and levels produce about alike.  Corn yields 30 to 40 bushels;  Wheat, 10;  Rye, 12;  Oats, 20.

Land in large tracts is worth, when containing fine coal, as much of it does, $5 to $10, which is also about the value of the farming land.  The timber is in large amounts, and of the finest quality.  Coal and timber land can be purchased at from $1 to $1.50.  Timber is worth 50 cents per tree, stumpage, and at the mills, 6 to 10 cents per cubic foot.

Principal industries:  farming, lumbering, and stock raising.  The stock is very good.

Principal exports:  timber, lumber, tobacco, forest products, and stock.

Markets:  The timber is sold at the stump, and rafted down to markets on the Ohio River, as is the lumber.  The tobacco and stock are sent to Cincinnati.

Minerals:  Coal in great quantity;  splint, common bituminous, and cannel;  fine stand stones for building.

Manufactories:  Three or more large grist and saw mills, on Mud River, one on Guyandotte River, and several steam saw mils, two tan-yards at Hamlin.

The principal streams are Guyandotte and Mud rivers.  The former is navigable several months of the year for "push boats," and timber may be floated down it on full water.  Mud and Little Coal are navigable for canoes and rafts in full stages.

Means of transportation at present are the above streams, and county mud roads, to the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.

Contemplated improvements:  Coal River railroad, the branch running up Little Coal;  Guyandotte Railroad, Guyandotte and Ohio River Railroad, Mud River Railroad, Ohio River and Wayne County Mineral Railroad.